This is not so much a game, more an essential starting point for parachute play. Get everyone to spread out the parachute and hold the edge, spaced out more or less evenly so they're standing in a circle. Pull the chute taut and lower it to the ground (or knee level). On the magic word (e.g. Mushroom!) everyone pulls the chute upwards (don't let go). It will fill with air and rise up like a giant mushroom - or igloo. To get it as high as possible everyone must take a couple of paces towards the center as the chute rises. It's good to practice this so that the group can learn to work effectively as a team and get the chute really high. It won't work without co-operation.
Variations on Mushroom Once you've mastered the basic mushroom it's fun to experiment. See what happens if:
Everyone mushrooms and then runs to the center, still holding the chute.
Everyone mushrooms, then lets go, especially outdoors on a windy day!
Everyone lets go at exactly the same time. To get this right it's best for someone to shout "One.. Two.. Three.. Go!", or similar, immediately after the "Mushroom!" instruction. For everyone to let go at exactly the right instant will take practice and concentration. Groups of children who haven't played with a parachute before will probably be delighted and fascinated by the effect for quite a while before you move on to any other games.
From a standing position, lift the parachute from the ground to waist height, counting one (lift) and two (lift). On three (lift), have everyone raise the parachute high over their heads and then crouch down, pulling the parachute tightly behind them. A mushroom effect is created as the parachute settles.
Vocal Exploration
This little activity encourages children to exercise their voice as well as raising awareness of pitch (high and low sounds). Start with everyone holding the parachute down low near the ground and singing a low sound on an 'oo' vowel. As you raise the parachute slide your voice up high (glissando.) As you lower the parachute back down, slide your voice down in pitch. This little activity is helpful in children developing their vocal skills (head voice, range and flexibility.)
Ring a Rosie
Bring new life to the simple game of Ring-a-Rosie! Children hold onto the parachute and circle around while singing. At the end of the song they all fall down. Ring a ring a rosie A pocket full of posies A tishoo, a tishoo We all fall down!
Cows are in the meadow Eating buttercups A tishoo, a tishoo We all jump up! (Jump up while sliding voice from low to high and lifting parachute).
Roller ball
Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a large ball near the edge. Try to make the ball roll around the edge of the chute. To do this someone starts the ball rolling. As it comes towards you, you lower the edge you are holding, and as it goes past you raise your edge. When all the players do this in synchronization it creates a wave going round the edge, pushing the ball round in front of it in a smooth, steady circle. It can not be done without concentration and co-operation! However, it is very rewarding for the group to eventually achieve a smooth, continuous motion. Once you've done this try speeding up - or change direction.
The Ocean
We pretend the parachute is the ocean. I have them give me the name of an ocean. Children move the parachute in response to the 'weather report' they heard. (Encourages children to be creative). For example, I'll say, "I heard on the weather report this morning that there was a slight breeze over the Atlantic. What would that look like?" The children respond by making small waves in the parachute. Other suggestions have been - high winds, snow (we would have to pull it tight to make the ice), twisters, etc. Once they get the hang of it the possibilities are endless.
Popcorn
This is a favorite with children of all ages. Place some plain white cotton-balls on the parachute and shake the parachute to some upbeat music. The 'popcorn' will pop and bounce around. A fantastic piece of music to use with this activity is "Popcorn." A lot of the 'popcorn' will fly off the parachute during the game (which is half the fun!) but let the group know it will be picked up at the end of the game. If people let go to pick up the pieces during the game, all the 'popcorn' will fall off in the gaps where people have let go. Before playing, remind children to keep holding on to the parachute till the end of the game. Children also enjoy picking up the popcorn together at the end of the game.
Jaws
Everyone sits on the floor in a circle holding the parachute stretched out with his or her legs underneath it. The chute is the sea and they are sitting on the beach, happily dipping their toes in the water. By shaking the edge of the chute realistic ripple or wave effects can be generated. Once the waves are going well someone is selected to be a shark and disappears under the chute. They move around underneath and because of the waves it will be difficult to see where they are. The shark chooses a victim and grabs him or her by the feet. The victim can give an appropriate scream before disappearing under the chute. This person now becomes a new shark. To prolong the game you can have the original shark revert to being a bather - or to make it more lively you can have several sharks in there at once. To finish the game you can choose 'once a shark, always a shark' - so everyone eventually becomes a shark. You can introduce freak weather conditions - or even a killer whale!
Ball Roll
Have the children try to roll balls into the hole in the center of the parachute.
Parachute Tag
Lift the parachute high overhead. Call one child's name and have her run (skip, hop, twirl or crawl) to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags her.
Running by Numbers
If the chute is a large one...the kids love to run underneath and switch places with others - could number them 1 through 5 around the circle- and then call out a number. (Lots of screams for this one.)
One Hand Run
Have each child hold the parachute with one hand, extending the opposite arm out for balance. Run (walk, hop, jump, skip) around in one direction, then change and run around in the other direction. A variation would be to use music as the cue for changing direction (i.e. direction can be changed every time the music stops).
Add a chant:
There was a man in our town
Who went for a WALK one day
But the wind blew so hard
He turned around
And WALKED the other way
Vivaldi's Spring
Trees blowing, Birds, River, Storm, Sun
When the Parachute Goes Up
Sung to: "If your happy and you know it"
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet
When the parachute is high
And floats up in the sky
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet.
... bend your knees
...wiggle your backside
...lift one leg
..shout hooray
...shake your head, etc. etc.
Mushroom
This is not so much a game, more an essential starting point for parachute play. Get everyone to spread out the parachute and hold the edge, spaced out more or less evenly so they're standing in a circle. Pull the chute taut and lower it to the ground (or knee level). On the magic word (e.g. Mushroom!) everyone pulls the chute upwards (don't let go). It will fill with air and rise up like a giant mushroom - or igloo. To get it as high as possible everyone must take a couple of paces towards the center as the chute rises. It's good to practice this so that the group can learn to work effectively as a team and get the chute really high. It won't work without co-operation.Variations on Mushroom
Once you've mastered the basic mushroom it's fun to experiment. See what happens if:
Vocal Exploration
This little activity encourages children to exercise their voice as well as raising awareness of pitch (high and low sounds). Start with everyone holding the parachute down low near the ground and singing a low sound on an 'oo' vowel. As you raise the parachute slide your voice up high (glissando.) As you lower the parachute back down, slide your voice down in pitch. This little activity is helpful in children developing their vocal skills (head voice, range and flexibility.)Ring a Rosie
Bring new life to the simple game of Ring-a-Rosie! Children hold onto the parachute and circle around while singing. At the end of the song they all fall down.Ring a ring a rosie
A pocket full of posies
A tishoo, a tishoo
We all fall down!
Cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercups
A tishoo, a tishoo
We all jump up! (Jump up while sliding voice from low to high and lifting parachute).
Roller ball
Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a large ball near the edge. Try to make the ball roll around the edge of the chute. To do this someone starts the ball rolling. As it comes towards you, you lower the edge you are holding, and as it goes past you raise your edge. When all the players do this in synchronization it creates a wave going round the edge, pushing the ball round in front of it in a smooth, steady circle. It can not be done without concentration and co-operation! However, it is very rewarding for the group to eventually achieve a smooth, continuous motion. Once you've done this try speeding up - or change direction.The Ocean
We pretend the parachute is the ocean. I have them give me the name of an ocean. Children move the parachute in response to the 'weather report' they heard. (Encourages children to be creative). For example, I'll say, "I heard on the weather report this morning that there was a slight breeze over the Atlantic. What would that look like?" The children respond by making small waves in the parachute. Other suggestions have been - high winds, snow (we would have to pull it tight to make the ice), twisters, etc. Once they get the hang of it the possibilities are endless.Popcorn
This is a favorite with children of all ages. Place some plain white cotton-balls on the parachute and shake the parachute to some upbeat music. The 'popcorn' will pop and bounce around. A fantastic piece of music to use with this activity is "Popcorn." A lot of the 'popcorn' will fly off the parachute during the game (which is half the fun!) but let the group know it will be picked up at the end of the game. If people let go to pick up the pieces during the game, all the 'popcorn' will fall off in the gaps where people have let go. Before playing, remind children to keep holding on to the parachute till the end of the game. Children also enjoy picking up the popcorn together at the end of the game.Jaws
Everyone sits on the floor in a circle holding the parachute stretched out with his or her legs underneath it. The chute is the sea and they are sitting on the beach, happily dipping their toes in the water. By shaking the edge of the chute realistic ripple or wave effects can be generated. Once the waves are going well someone is selected to be a shark and disappears under the chute. They move around underneath and because of the waves it will be difficult to see where they are. The shark chooses a victim and grabs him or her by the feet. The victim can give an appropriate scream before disappearing under the chute. This person now becomes a new shark. To prolong the game you can have the original shark revert to being a bather - or to make it more lively you can have several sharks in there at once. To finish the game you can choose 'once a shark, always a shark' - so everyone eventually becomes a shark. You can introduce freak weather conditions - or even a killer whale!Ball Roll
Have the children try to roll balls into the hole in the center of the parachute.Parachute Tag
Lift the parachute high overhead. Call one child's name and have her run (skip, hop, twirl or crawl) to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags her.Running by Numbers
If the chute is a large one...the kids love to run underneath and switch places with others - could number them 1 through 5 around the circle- and then call out a number. (Lots of screams for this one.)One Hand Run
Have each child hold the parachute with one hand, extending the opposite arm out for balance. Run (walk, hop, jump, skip) around in one direction, then change and run around in the other direction. A variation would be to use music as the cue for changing direction (i.e. direction can be changed every time the music stops).Add a chant:
There was a man in our town
Who went for a WALK one day
But the wind blew so hard
He turned around
And WALKED the other way
Vivaldi's Spring
Trees blowing, Birds, River, Storm, Sun
When the Parachute Goes Up
Sung to: "If your happy and you know it"When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet
When the parachute is high
And floats up in the sky
When the parachute goes up
Stomp your feet.
... bend your knees
...wiggle your backside
...lift one leg
..shout hooray
...shake your head, etc. etc.